Electric switch



1. H. GEORGE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATXON'FILED [IE-3.6.1917.

1,41 1,620. I Patented Apr. 4, 19.22.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor: (T06 11 George,

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

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ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. 1917..

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um-Tao STATE-S CONNECTICUT.-

PIA'IENTFOFFICE,

JOHN H. GEORGE, or BRIDGEPORT, connnc'rxcn'r, ASSIGNOR TO HAWTHORNE MANU- FACTURIN'G COMPANY, me, or 'nnrnonron'r, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or,

- ELECTRIC} SWITCH.

Application filed December 6, 1917. Serial No. 205,728.

To all whom it may concern: 3

. Be'it known that I, JOHN subject ofthe King of Great Britain, and resident of Bridgeport, in" the county of I Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings ,is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention'relates to electric switches, and is more particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with a switch adapted for the control of the lighting circuit or'cir cuits of one'or more lamps of a headlight or Searchlight.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: I Fig. 1 is a central, longitudinal section,

partly in elevation, of a Searchlight equipped with a switch embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the switch; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a partial front elevation, on an of the switch with its front plate removed;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional viewon linef,

4 4 of Fig.4;

.Fig. 5 is a central, longitudinal section of the switch at the same scale as Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on line'6-6 of Fig. 5,1ookingtoward-the left;

Fig.7 is a sectional view, on'line 77 of Fig. 5, looking toward the right;

Fig. 8 is a detail, sectional view on line "--8 of Fig. 7; and

Figs. 9, 10 and 11', are diagrammatic views showing the lighting circuit in three posi-', tions of the switch, the first showingLthe switch positioned for the/lighting of one lamp, the second with the switch inits off position, and the third showing the switch positioned forithe lighting of the second lamp. l v Referring to the 'drawings, and to the embodiment of my invention which is illus trated therein, I have shown a head-light H. Gnondn, a I

. of terminals.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

cent electric bulb 15, having abase 16 which i -1ng bayonet slots 18 in a socket 19. These bulbs are of two types, one having a single, centrally-located terminal, and. a circumferential terminal, while the other is provided at its rear or inner end with a pair Thelatter type is herein se-' lected for illustration, and has two terminals 20 and 21. Cooperating with these terminals are contacts 22 and 23, carried by encircled by a spring 25, which-urges the and 21, respectively.

a plug 24 mounted in the socket 19, and l v 7o The lamp is also provided with a second incandescent electric bulb 26, which may be and is herein of greater candle power than the bulb 15, the bulb 26 being provided with a base 27 having a pair of laterally projecting pins-28 located in bayonet slots 29 in a.

socket 30. This bulb also is provided with te rminals 31 and 32, cooperating with spring-pressedl co'ntacts33 and 34, respec-- tively, best shown in Fig. 5.] Theswitch proper comprises two co;axi ally disposed,

relatively rotatable, unitsj35' and 36 (see Figs. 5 and 8). The unit'35, which may be,

and herein is,.non-rotatable, is provided with an interior 0 mber 37,'best shown in-Figs. 5, 6 and 7, in which the rotatable unit 36 is. located. .The addition of the unit 36 makes the chamber 37-entirely closed. The chamber, therefore, forms an air-tight, dustproof housing for the contacts, which will be presently described.

'The non-rotatable unit 35. herein com prises twoend members 38 and 39, and an intermediate member '40,. all preferably formed of some suitable insulating substance, such for example as compressed fibre, which is'wellada' ted to the purpose, since it may b'e' pressed; n-tothe desired form 'by means of molds or 'dies;., Likewise, the

rotatable unit 36 comprises a"member-41 formed of suitable insulating material, also I preferably consisting of compressed fibre. Since these parts are formed of insulating material, they form suitable .mountings, in which the contacts'and conductors hereinafter described, can be directly mounted,

drical recess 45 in the member '38.

of fastening members preferably consisting of bolts 46, best shown in Figs. 2,. 3, 6 and I 7, having nuts 47 to clamp the three members together.

Any suitable means may be provided properly to position the members 38 and 40 With reference to eachother, but in the present example, I have provided the member 40 with a pair of lugs 48, best'shownin Figs. 4 and 6, projecting into and snugly fitting depressions 49 in the member 38. As a means to position the members 40 and 41 with reference to each other, and to limit the turning movement of the member 41, I have herein provided the latter with a lug 50, best shown, in Figs. 7 and'8, projecting into a segmental recess 51, best showuin F ig. 6. As an aid in the proper positioning of the member 39 with. reference to" the member 41, the latter is preferably provided with one or more, herein three shallowdepressions 52, best shown in Figs. 7 and 8,,to receive a yielding ositioning pin 53, having a rounded or beve ed eiid to enter the individual depressions. This pin is-mounted 'to slide axially in a deep depression 54in into the member 39,,and making sure that the pin 53is' in the middle depression 52, and thenintroducing the lug '50 into the The lugs 48 on the: member 40, entering into the depressions 49 ir 1 the member 38, position the members 38 and 40 with reference to each other. The holes for the bolts 46 will now be properly aligned, so that when the bolts are introduced, the several parts will be correct'lyfpositioned with relation to one another to per rm their proper functions with reference to the. contacts now to be described.

The contact pins 33 and 34 are mounted in a well-known manner. to slide axially in tu- 1 bular' guides 56 and 57, best shown in Fig;

5, mounted in fixed position in .the member 40, and containing springs 58 and 59, which serve to urge the contacts 33 and 34 in anoutward direction. Shoulders 61 and 62 on the contacts 33 and 34, respectively, limit the outward movement of the latter under the influence of their respective springs.

i and '32, respectively, of the bulb 26, so that when said contacts are connected in circuit with a suitable source of current, said bulb is lighted.

Leading from the contacts 22 and 23, respectively, of the plug 24 (see Fig. 1) are two insulated conducting Wires 65 and 66, which extend into recesses 67 and 68, respectively, in one face of the member '40 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6). The ends of these Wires are bared, doubled back upon themselves and interlocked with suitable terminals.69 and 70, also mounted within. and protected by the grooves 67 and 68. These terminalsmay be secured in place by any suitable means, as, for example, rivets 71 and 72 which extend through the member 40 to the chamber 37, where they are provided .with heads 73 and 74, constituting contacts which are preferably embedded flush with the front face of said chamber.

Two other flexible insulated {conducting wires 75 and 76. which may be connected to any suitable source of current not shown, are also connected to the non-rotatable part of the switch. The wire-75 preferably extends into the groove 67, which is prolonged for such purpose, and the end of said wire is bared, doubled upon itself, and interlocked with the terminal 69 within said groove. The wire 76, however, extends into still another groove 77, where its end is bared, doubledback upon itself and interlocked with a terminal 78. The latter is then secured in place by a rivet 79 extending through the member 40 to the interior of the chamber 37, where it is provided with a head 80 constituting a contact preferably flush withthe front face of said chamber. .Thus it is apparent that all the flexible conducting wires are secured to the non-rotatable unitof the switch, and moreover that their mode of attachment is suchthat their ends are'well protected against the possibility of injury, and are so housed that the possibility of short circuits is eliminated.

While I have herein shown the switch adapted for the control of the lighting circuits of two lamps or bulbs,- it should be understood that'it is equally well adapted to example, it is desirable that when one is in circuit, the other shall be out of circuit. To this end, I have herein provided the rotatable unit 36 with three contact plates 81, 82 and 83. By reference to Figs. 9, and 11, it will be observed that the plate 81, when swung from the position shown in F ig.- 10 to the position shown in Fig. 9, makes contact with the contact members 31 and 73. Like- 10 wise, when the switch is in this position, the contact plate 82 makes contact with the con tact members 80 and 32. Hence, at this time, a circuit is completed to the bulb 26. When, onthe other hand, the unit 36 is 1! turned from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 10, the contact plates 81 and 82 are carried out of contact with their respectively pairs of contacts 73, 31, and 80, 32, so that the lamp circuit is broken. a When, now, the unit 36 is turned from the position shown in Fig. 10 to that shown in Fig. 11, the contact plate 82 contacts with the contact member 74, while the plate 83 contacts with the contact member 80. By simply providing a permanent connection between the plates 82and 83, a circuit to the bulb 15 will be completed when the switch is-placed in the position shown in Fig. 11.

Thi permanent connection may take other forms, but in the present example, I have shown them. connected by aniintegral conductor 84. In fact, the two plates are p'referably stamped as a single piece. When, on

5 the other hand, the switch is restored to the position shown in Fig. 10, the plates 82 and" 83 are moved out of contact with the contact members 74 and 80, respectively, and

the circuit to the bulb 15 is broken.

The ,plates 81,82 and 83 may be otherwise suitably constructed and mounted on theinsulating member 4=I,'but in the present ex ample, each of said plates is provided at its terminal '4 may be ,'w1th slightly elevated rounded projections, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7 and said plates are mounted on springpressed plungers 85 86 and 87 whichurge the plates 'in an axial direction against the 5 front face of the chamber 37, thereby to ensureproper WOlldIlg contact of said plates with the fixed contact members which are mounted in the insulating member 40. Preferably, the plates181, 82 and 83 are sunk [flush into the front face of the insulating member 41, the latter for this purpose being -provided with an irregularly shaped depression 88, best shown in Figs. 7 and8, which depression for the most part is shaped '60 to correspond 'with the outlines, of said lates, and thus serves to hold themaccurately in their proper positions with reference to the insulating member 41.

V -It shouldnow be apparent that since all '0f the conducting par s a e fully enclosed ortionor portions, as the case and insulated from one another, there is no possibility of the occurrence of short ciroccur, because it has three definite positions determined by the three depressions 52, which receive the positioning pin 53 (see Figs. 7' and 8), the middle depression cor responding to the off position of the switch,

and the other two depressions corresponding, respectively, to the two positions in which the switch completes the circuit to the two bulbs. Obviously, in the case of a lamp having a single bulb only, one of these depressions may be omitted if desired, although its omissionis unnecessary, as it is evident that the switch without change can be ,used for either one or two-lamp circuits.

The socket may be otherwise appropriately secured in place in the insulating member-38, but in the present example, said socket is provided with a plurality of lugs 89 in the form of tongues stamped out of and struck up from the rear end. of the socket and embedded in; the .material of which the member 38 is molded. This can be conveniently accomplished by setting the socket member in the die or mold, and then flowing or forcing the insulating material thereinto about .the socket, whereby the lat-' ter becomes interlocked with and perma nently held in-its place in the insulating member, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5. v

The switch may be used in connection with lamps of other types, but in the present example, I'haveshown the same mounted in a headlight or Searchlight having a casing 90, within which isa reflector 91 associated with the bulb 2.6 in, coaxial relationship I therewith, while the switch occupies a chamber formed between the casing and there- 'flector, as shown in Fig. 1.

' Although my invention relates to the switch per vse, for the sake of illustrating one of its many'applications, I have herein lshown the-same in connection with the operating means, which forms the subjectmatter of another application. In the example shown, the rear end of theunit 35 is provided with a rearwardly extending boss or hub 92, in the form of a. prism having any suitable number of faces, and this boss has t isfalsoevident that the switch i a snug fit in a correspondingly shaped aperture 93' of a collar 94, the latter being seenlarged head. 96 embedded in'and interlocked with the member 41, which is molded present example has at its forward end anproviding the latter with a prismatic po1-.

tion 99 embedded in a correspondingly shaped hole 100 in the knob, while a screw 101, threaded into the end of the rod secures the knob to the rod.

While I have herein shown and described one form or embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and discussed in detail the construction and arrangement incidental to one specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of,

parts, nor to its specific embodiment herein shown, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made, without departing from the principles thereof. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is: I

1. In an electric switch and socket structure, the combination of two relatively rotatable inner and outer units forming together an interior, closed chamber, a set of contacts carried by said units within said chamber, a set of conductors carried by and extending laterally into said outer unit and connectedv to said. contacts, a contact actuator extending from one end of said outer unit, and a socket associated with said contacts and carried by the other end of said outer unit.

.2. In-an electric switch, the combination of two relativel rotatable units forming together an interior, closed chamber, a set of contacts carried by said units within said chamber, and endwise engaging means Wit/hf in said chamber to limit. the extentof relative rotation of said units.

I 3. In an electric switch, the combination of two relatively rotatable units, one comprising an insulating housing including two end members and an intermediate member interposed therebetween and abutting end to end,

-'members abutting end to end and forming together an interior chamber, means to secure said members together end to end, the other of Stud units comprising an msulatmg member located in said chamber, and cooperating contacts carried by said members within said chamber.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of two relatively rotatable units, one of,, said units comprising two end members and an intermediate member abutting end to end and having interengaging projections, said intermediate member and one of said end members forming together an interior chamber, having a circumferential wall formed by such members, a plurality of contacts mounted in said intermediate member and extending to said chamber, and the other of said units comprising an insulatitng member located within said chamber, and a contact carried thereby and cooperating with the first-mentioned contact member.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of two relatively rotatable units, one of an intermediate member abutting end to end said intermediate member and one of said end members forming together an interior chamber, and said intermediate member and the other end member together forming .85 said units comprisingt-wo end members and a other chambers, conductors leading into said insulating member located within saidinner chamber, and contacts carried by the last mentioned insulating member and cooperating with the first mentioned contact-s.

7. In an electric switch, the combination of two relatively rotatable units, one of said units comprisingtwo end members and an intermediate member abutting end to end, said intermediate member and one of said end members interengaging with each other andforming together an interior chamber, and said intermediate member and the other end member interengaging with each other and forming together other chambers, con- -ductors leading into said other chambers, contacts connected to saidconductors and extendin through said intermediate member to said interior chamber, other contacts extendin through said intermediate memher to sald interior chamber, and the other of said'units comprising an insulating member located within said inner chamber, and

contacts carried by the last-mentioned insulating -member and cooperating with the first-mentioned contacts.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of'two relatively rotatable units having cooperating contacts and assembled by relative axialmovement, and means to enforce -the assembling of said units in predetermined relationship. when brought together endwise.

9. In an electric switch, the combination of said set of three and in another position 10 of two insulating members arranged face to to bridge and make connection between two face and mounted to turn one with relation contacts of said set and the two contacts of to the other, and cooperating contacts carsaid pair, respectively.

5 ried by said members, respectively, said con- In testimony whereof, I have signed my tacts including a set of three and a pair carname to this specification.

,riedcby/one oi saidmembers, and three contacts carried by the other member and ar- JOHN H. GEORGE. ranged in one position to bridge two contacts 

